As the final whistle approaches on a thrilling Club World Cup campaign, Chelsea captain Reece James is refusing to be overawed by the challenge that awaits.
Despite Paris Saint-Germain’s status as the reigning French Cup, Ligue 1, and UEFA Champions League winners, the Blues skipper believes his side has what it takes to stun the world in Sunday’s showdown.
“We’re preparing right and we’re going there to win,” James told reporters in the build-up to the final.
“I’ve been in many finals before where we were favourites and we didn’t come out on top.”
It’s that hard-earned experience—victories and disappointments alike—that fuels James’ steely confidence. Having featured in multiple high-pressure matches for both club and country, the 24-year-old is unfazed by the underdog tag.
While Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has openly labelled PSG the “best team in the world,” James remains defiant in the face of glowing praise for the opposition.
“To be honest, I don’t care that everyone is bigging up our opposition,” the defender declared.
That mentality—fearless, focused, and driven—sums up the mood in the Chelsea camp. Despite the youth and relative inexperience in Maresca’s squad, James is confident that the team’s togetherness and preparation will be crucial in taking down the European giants.
James is also banking on the behind-the-scenes work of Chelsea’s support staff to give them a tactical edge.
“I’m sure the analyst team we have will be looking at the games where PSG haven’t done so well, and we’ll try and adapt to that,” he said.
Chelsea may lack PSG’s star-studded reputation, but that won’t stop them from believing. James insists the Blues are ready to give everything in pursuit of global glory.
“PSG are amazing and we’re expecting a tough game,” he admitted.
“But I believe we can surprise a lot of people.”
Chelsea fans know all too well that it’s never wise to count their club out, especially when there’s silverware on the line. Reece James embodies that belief. Calm under pressure, battle-tested, and full of fire—he’s ready to lead Chelsea into one more final, with one goal in mind: victory.
If James and his teammates succeed, it won’t just be an upset. It’ll be a statement.